Chapter 147
Elara’s POV
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Elara led Marcus upstairs to their bedroom, her hand clasped tightly in his, neither of them said a word. Words felt inadequate for what was coming, for the storm that would break over them tomorrow.
The bedroom was quiet, lit only by the city lights filtering through the windows. Marcus closed the door behind them and leaned against it, just looking at her.
“Come here,” Elara said softly.
Marcus crossed the room and pulled her close, his hands finding her waist, his forehead resting against hers. They stood like that for a long moment, breathing together, finding comfort in proximity.
“I love you,” Marcus whispered.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her then, slow and deep, his hands sliding up her back. Elara melted into him, her fingers working at the buttons of his shirt. The fabric fell away and she ran her hands over his chest, feeling his heart beating fast under her palms.
Marcus’s hands found the hem of her dress and lifted it carefully over her head, mindful of the bump that housed their babies. When the dress was gone he paused, his eyes traveling over her body with something
close to reverence.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said.
Elara felt tears prick at her eyes but blinked them away. No crying tonight.
She unclasped her bra and let it fall. Marcus’s breath caught. He cupped her breasts gently, his thumbs brushing over her nipples until they hardened under his touch.
“Bed,” Elara breathed.
They moved together to the mattress. Marcus laid her down carefully, arranging pillows behind her back the way the doctor had instructed for her bed rest. Even now, even in this moment, he was thinking about keeping her safe.
He stripped off the rest of his clothes and climbed onto the bed beside her, his hand tracing patterns on her stomach where their babies grew.
“Are they okay?” Marcus asked. “Being intimate, I mean. Did the doctor say…”
“She said it’s fine as long as we’re gentle and I don’t overexert myself.”
“I’ll be gentle.” Marcus kissed her shoulder, her collarbone, the swell of her breast. “I promise.”
His mouth found her nipple and Elara gasped, her hands threading through his hair. Everything felt
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Chapter 147
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heightened tonight, every touch electric, like her body knew this might be the last time they had this peace.
Marcus’s hand slid down her stomach to the waistband of her underwear. He hooked his fingers in and pulled them down slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
When she was completely bare he settled between her thighs, kissing the inside of her knee, her thigh, getting closer to where she needed him but taking his time.
“Marcus,” Elara pleaded.
“I know.” His breath ghosted over her center. “Let me take care of you.”
His tongue found her clit and Elara’s back arched off the bed. He worked her slowly, thoroughly, like he had all the time in the world. Building the pleasure in waves, bringing her close to the edge then backing off, starting over.
“Please,” Elara gasped. “I need…”
“Shush.”
Marcus slid two fingers inside her while his mouth focused on her clit and that was all it took. Elara came with his name on her lips, her hands fisted in the sheets, her whole body trembling.
Before she’d fully come down, Marcus was kissing his way back up her body. He positioned himself at her entrance, his eyes searching hers.
“Still okay?”
“More than okay.”
He pushed inside slowly, both of them gasping at the sensation. Marcus stilled once he was fully seated, giving her body time to adjust, giving them both time to just feel this connection.
Then he started to move. Long, slow strokes that had Elara wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. He kept the pace gentle like he’d promised but the intensity was there in his eyes, in the way his hands gripped her hips, in the small sounds he made with each thrust.
“I love you,” Marcus said again, the words falling from his lips like prayer. “I love you so much.”
“Show me.”
He did. With his body, with his hands, with his mouth on hers swallowing her moans. They moved together like they’d been doing this for years instead of months, perfectly in sync, perfectly matched.
Elara felt another orgasm building and reached down to touch herself. Marcus watched, his thrusts getting slightly harder, his breathing ragged.
“That’s it,” he encouraged. “Let me see you.”
She came again, clenching around him, and Marcus followed seconds later with a low groan. He buried his face in her neck as he pulsed inside her, his whole body shaking with release.
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Chapter 147
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They stayed connected for a long moment, neither wanting to break the spell. Finally Marcus shifted to the side, careful not to put weight on her stomach. He pulled her close, her back to his chest, his hand resting protectively over where their babies grew.
“Whatever happens tomorrow,” Marcus said into the darkness, “we face it together. Okay?”
“Together,” Elara agreed.
“If I lose the company, we’ll figure it out. If my reputation is destroyed, we’ll rebuild. If the board strips me of everything, I’ll start over.”
“You won’t have to start over alone.”
“I know.” Marcus kissed her shoulder. “That’s the only thing that matters.”
They talked for another hour, running through worst-case scenarios like they could somehow prepare for the coming storm. What if the board believed Penelope? What if Marcus lost his shares? What if they had to move out of the penthouse?
None of it seemed to matter much when they were lying here together, their children safe between them, the future uncertain but at least shared.
Eventually Elara’s eyes grew heavy. Marcus’s breathing evened out behind her, his arm still wrapped around her waist. She let herself drift off, feeling safer than she had any right to given what tomorrow would bring.
Elara woke to Marcus’s phone buzzing violently on the nightstand. Sunlight streamed through the windows. She blinked continuously and reached for her own phone.
6:47 AM. Too early for phone calls unless something was wrong.
Marcus jerked awake beside her, grabbing his phone. “What the hell…”
His face went pale as he looked at the screen. Elara sat up, fear pooling in her stomach.
“What is it?”
Marcus turned the phone so she could see. News alerts were flooding in, dozens of them, all with variations of the same headline.
BREAKING: Thorne CEO Involved in Shocking Scandal
Marcus Thorne Sex Tape Leaked – Board Calls Emergency Meeting
EXCLUSIVE: Video Shows Billionaire CEO in Compromising Position
Elara felt the room tilt. “She released it early. Penelope released the video.”
Marcus was already scrolling through the alerts, his jaw clenched tight. “It’s everywhere. Every major business publication, every tabloid, every…”
His phone started ringing. Then Elara’s. Then Marcus’s again. Calls from board members, from investors,
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Chapter 147
from reporters who’d somehow gotten their personal numbers.
Elara looked at the screen of her phone where another notification had appeared.
Shit, this is the beginning of a fucking storm
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